How to Identify Invasive Pond Plants

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Aquatic plants that are not native to your region and can easily spread from your own pond to natural ponds are considered invasive pond plants. Such plants may be transported by birds and other wildlife from your pond to natural ponds and tend to grow quickly. This rapid growth of invasive pond plants reduces the amount of natural sunlight a waterway gets and prevents the growth of native aquatic plants. For example in California, water hyacinth has become a serious threat to many waterways. Allowing these plants to spread into natural waterways may even be illegal, making it important that you identify and contain invasive plants in your pond.

1

Watch the growth of the plants in your pond; if you constantly have to pull out a particular aquatic plant to contain its growth, it may be a non-native invasive plant.

2

Collect a sample of the overgrowing pond plant and place it into a plastic bag.

3

Choose a reference guide to invasive pond species, such as the USDA’s Aquatic Species webpage for identification.

4

Compare the photos and identifying information of each aquatic plant on the list to your sample.

5

Take your plant sample to a local pond retailer for a positive identification if you cannot identify the plant yourself. Your plant may not be considered invasive or may be a less common invasive plant than those listed in your references.

About the Author

Lynn Anders has more than 15 years of professional experience working as a zookeeper, wildlife/environmental/conservation educator and in nonprofit pet rescue. Writing since 2007, her work has appeared on various websites, covering pet-related, environmental, financial and parenting topics. Anders has a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and biology from California State University, Sacramento.